Most expensively dressed Christmas tree: Emirates Palace sets world record

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--The Emirates Palace hotel–already the home of the world's first gold ATM–has decked out a 43-foot-high Christmas tree with about $11-million worth of precious jewelry from a local jeweler , setting the world record for the Most expensively dressed Christmas tree. Photo: The 13-metre Christmas tree at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi is decorated with ornaments worth Dh40 million. Photo by: Abdul Rahman
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Diamond necklace-and-earring sets, strings of pearls, and emerald and ruby bracelets–181 pieces in total–are strewn between the more mundane gold and silver balls and bows.

The priciest piece is a diamond set costing 3.5 million dirhams, or just short of $1 million.

"It's an artificial tree, but the jewelry—that's not artificial," the hotel's general manager, Hans Olbertz, said at an opening event.

'The tree itself is about US$10,000,' Mr Olbertz said. 'The jewellery has a value of over US$11 million - I think US$11.4, US$11.5.'

Emirates Palace has a track record of over-the-top stunts. It installed a gold ATM near its lobby, where customers can buy bullion. It holds a Guinness World Record for serving up the most expensive shot of alcohol–at some $2,000 for a Hardy Perfection cognac.

The hotel will try to get its tree recognized by Guinness World Records as well, as the world's most expensively dressed.
Staff cites just one other, close competitor: a Japanese tree that has also applied for the title, with decorations valued at $10.8 million.